Compare towns
Pembroke vs Suncook vs Bow vs Epsom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Pembroke | Suncook | Bow | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
5,432 |
8,335Highest |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
| Epsom and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epsom and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$97,941±$13k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,212±$437 19% below NH |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589 14% above NH |
$6,975 5% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,210Lowest 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | — | Bow School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.